Electrical connecter



Oct. 18,1927. G J MEUER 1,646,037

- ELECTRICAL CONNECTER Filed Feb. .1, 1920 INVEN TOR.

ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 18, 1927.

came STATES GEORGE J. MEUER, or MI WAUKEE,fvvrsoonsm, assrenon rCUTLER-HAM- MEE IVIFGpCil, or MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION orwIsConsIn.

ELECTRICAL oonnnorn'nq Application filed February 21, 1920. "Serial No.360,557.

This invention relates to electrical con necters and more particularlyto cord conuecters, although certain features thereof are also generallyapplicable to separable devices having co-operating contacts to beengaged and disengaged by substantially rectilinear movements.

In devices of such character the co-operating contacts are usuallydesigned to interlock and it is therefore important that they be insuredengagement in a givenrelation. On the other hand, the necessity ofprecise relative positioning of the contacts prior to engagement thereofis annoying and the present invention has among its objects toprovideanimproved device of simple construction wherein the contactswill be insured engagement in the propel-relation and wherein provisionis made for considerable latitude in relative positioning of thecontacts prior to engagement thereof. 7

Another object is toprovide adevice of the aforesaid character havingimproved contacts so mounted as to facilitate interlociting thereof andto better fuliill their electrical and mechanical.functions.

Another object is to provide a device of the aforesaid charactercomprising a mini mum number of simple and rugged parts compactly butyet conveniently arranged.

Another object is to provide a device of the aforesaid character havingsimplified and improved means for relieving strain upon the conductorterminals.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

. In the accompanying drawing, wherein is illustrated an embodiment ofthe invention,

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof;

Fig. 2 shifted angularly through approximately ninety degrees; v

Fig. 3, is a horizontalillustration substantially on line 35 of Fig. 1,as viewed from above; I V c v Fig. 4 is a similar illustrationsubstantially on line 45*4: of Fig. 1 as viewed from above;

' Fig. 5 is a horizontal illustration also substantiallyon line 3-5 ofFig.1 but viewed from eneath and showing the conductors attached; and jv c Fig. ('3 is an enlargedtransverse sectional is a similar View but ina plane viewshowing one pair of the cooperating contacts ininterlocked'relation. i j

I Referring to the drawing, the same illustrates a cord connectercomprising a cylindrical central member 6 of insulating material andsubstantially hemispherical end members 7 and 8 also of insulatingmaterial, the end member 8 being inpractice perinanently secured to saidcentral member to provide a receptacle for contacts carried by theend1nember7 which is separable from the other members. I

End members 7 and 8 arerespectively provided with axial conductorpassages 9 and 10 and with projecting co-operating pairs of spacedcontacts 11, 11 and 12, 12; while the member 6 is provided with throughpassages 13 eachto receive a pair of oppositely extending contacts 11'and 12. The two pairs ofcont'acts render the connecter of a double polecharacter and when the contacts are engaged they interlock to releasably secure the end member 7 to the member 6. v More specifically,said contacts are arranged to lie substantially parallel with and tooverlap one another upon diametrically opposite sides of the respectiveconductor passages 9 and 10, the contacts 11 being spaced a relativelygreater distance to fit outside the corresponding contacts 12. The

outer surfaces of contacts 12 are provided respectively with humpsadapted to take in to corresponding indentations of theinner surfacesofrcspective contacts 11 for locking the n'iembersagainst accidentalseparaion and also against relative rotation. The

tips of contacts 11 are tapered and flared outwardly whereas the tips ofcontacts 12 are flared inwardly, to assist in guiding the same intosuitable interlocking relation during telescoping thereof. 7

Said contacts are provided with rectan gularly bent substantially fiatbase portions 1 1-, M and 15 15 for securement thereof to the respectivemembers of the connecter. The projecting portions of the contacts 11,which inservice are frequently exposed, are transversely arched and sucharching continues through the bend between said base and projectingportions for imparting strength and rigidityto the latter particula'rlyat the line of such'bendiiig, while for a like purpose these members areconstructed appreciably wider than the members 12 and of heavier stock.The projecting portions of said members 12 beyond their lines of bendingare similarly arched to lit accurately within the members 11, such jointarching also assisting in positioning of said contacts.

The passages 13 are of substantially uniform segment-shape in crosssection being extended radially of the member 6 a distance appreciablygreater than the combined thickness of either pair of co-operatingcontacts to provide space for radial yielding of said contacts relativeto one another during telescoping thereof. Moreover, each of saidpassages is formed relatively broad upon its side toward the peripheryof said member 6 to receive one of the broad contacts 11, while thewalls of said passage converge laterally toward the respective narrowcontacts 12 to provide against insertion of the contacts 11 in arelation too close to the axis of the device to c0-0perate properly withsaid contacts 12. Said openings being thus materially larger than thecontacts to be inserted therein, are adapted, in conjunction with thetapered tips of said contacts, to facilitate entry of the latter withinthe former, assuming only approximately accurate prior positioningthereof, whereas the peculiar shape of said passage serves during fullinsertion of said contacts to guide the same into suitable relation withrespect to the contacts 12.

The base portions of the several contacting members are adapted to fitsnugly within correspondingly shaped recesses in the adjacent flatsurfaces of end members 7 and S, the latter having each a pair ofshouldered and internally screw-threaded metallic inserts 16 formedtherein and projecting a short distance axially within the respectiverecesses and through suitable openings in the respective base portionsof said contact ing members, being riveted therebeyond. Each of baseportions 14 and 15 is of re duced width between its point of securementand the root of its projecting contact, such reduced portions providingfor resilient radial yielding of said contacts. Terminal screws 17 arecarried within said inserts whereby the latter serve for securement bothof the contacting members andthe conduc tors therefor, whereas the sidesof the recesses serve to prevent lateral movement or swinging of saidcontact members.

The base portions of the contacting members 12 are further provided withoffset lugs 18 arranged substantially flush with the fiat surface of theend member 8. Said lugs are provided with screw threaded openingsadapted to receive screws 19 extending through counterbored openings inthe center member 6 for securing said center and end members together asdescribed, while permitting separation thereof for wiring.

Each of said end members 7 and 8 is provided with a device for relievingstrain upon the conductor terminals thereot, such devices comprisingflat bridge members 20 arranged fiatwise in the respective conductorpassages 9 and 10 and substantially bisecting the same. Each of saidbridge members is provided with a portion 21 extending within suchconductor opening and with shouldered terminal portions 22 adapted tolit within suitably arranged slots 23 which communicate both with theflat surface and with the conductor passage of their respective endmember and having corresponding shoulders for accurate positioning ofsaid bridge member with its exposed edge 2% substantially flush withsuch flat surface. Said exposed ec ge 24 is provided with an extendednotch 25 having its base substantially in. the radial plane of theadjacent conductor terminals.

In wiring either of said end members, the conductor is passed inwardlythrough the conductor opening, with one of its wires upon either side ofthe bridge member, said wires being bent across the latter and withinthe notch 25 thereof for connection with the opposite terminal screw.The bridge thus provides substantially a right angle bend of theconductor wires whereby any pull upon the conductor is taken by thebridge and not by the terminals. The location of the wires within thenotches 25 also provides against radial displacement of the former. Thecenter member 6 may furthermore be recessed as illustrated at 26 toprovide additional space for the wires as the same pass the bridge andto further provide against lateral shitting of said wires.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, cooperating members provided with contacts to beengaged and disengaged by substantially rectilinear movement, thecontacts of one of said members projecting therebcyond and the contactsof the other member being relatively narrower and confined insubstantially V-shaped passages therein, said last mentioned con tactsbeing located adjacent to the converging point of the walls of saidpassages, and said other contacts being admissible into said passagesonly at a predetermined distance trom said converging point to therebyinsure proper engagement of the respective contacts.

2. In combination, cooperating members provided with contacts to beengaged and disengaged by substantially rectilinear movement, thecontacts of one of said members projecting outwardly therefrom, and thecontacts of the other member being narrower than said projectingcontacts and confined in passages in said member, each of said passagesbeing of substantially uniform cross section throughout its length andhaving its walls converging toward the contact confined therewithin.

3. The combination with a pair of insulating members, a plurality ofoutwardly projecting cooperating contacts carried by said members, thecontacts on one of said members being of greater width than the contactson the other member, an insulating member secured to said last mentionedmemher and having passages therethrough of substantially V-shape incross section, said last mentioned contacts being located adjacent therespective points of convergence of the walls of said V-shaped passages,and the other contacts being movable into said pas sages only at agreater distance from said points of convergence.

4. A quick detachablecord connecter com prising a plurality ofinsulating members. one of said members carrying a plurality of contactsand another of said members carrying a plurality of smaller contactsadapted to cooperate therewith, all of said contacts being ofsubstantially concavo-conver: form in cross section, the convex surfacesof said small contacts being adapted for engagement with the concavesurfaces of the other contacts, a third insulating member secured tosaid second mentioned member and having substantially V-shaped throughpassages of uniform cross sectional area to receive said small contactsadjacent the respective points of convergence of the walls thereof, saidlarge contacts being admissible into said passages only in a relation toengage the convex surfaces of the other contacts, and means forreleasably interlocking said contacts when in engagement.

5. In combination, co-operating members provided with contacts adaptedto be engaged and disengaged by substantially rectilinear relativemovement, one of said me1nbers having its contacts projectingtherebeyond and the other member having contacts of less widthyieldingly confined in passages therein, said pass-ages being materiallylarger than said projecting contacts to facilitate entry of the latterwithin the former and each of said passages having its walls converginglaterally toward the contacts contained therein to provide for a givenrelation of said co-operating contacts when engaged, said co-operatingcontacts being shaped with respect to each other in a manner to assistin relative positioning thereof.

6. In combination, co-operating members provided with contacts adaptedto be engaged and disengaged by substantially rectilinear relativemovement, one of said members having its contacts projecting therebeyondand the other member having narrower contacts confined within passagestherein,

said co-operating contacts having releasable interlocking'means andcomplementary guiding means to assist in accurate relative positioningthereof, said passages being materially larger than said projectingcontacts to facilitate insertion of the latter within the former andeach of'said openings having its walls converging laterally toward thecontacts confined therein for insuring insere tion of said projectingcontacts only in such relation as to render said guiding meanseffective. 7

7. In combination, co-operating members provided with contacts adaptedto be engaged and disengaged by substantially rectilinear relativemovement, one of said mem bers having its contacts projectingtherebeyond and the other member having relatively narrower contactsyieldingly confined in passages therein, said passages having freeopenings materially larger than said projecting contacts to facilitateentry of the latter within the former and having walls converginglaterally toward the contacts confined therein for insuring engagementof said co-operating contacts only in a given relation and also havingwall portions spaced laterally from in-bent portions of said con- Ifined contacts to permit yielding thereof during insertion of saidprojecting contacts.

8. In combination, co-operating members provided with contacts adaptedto be engaged and disengaged by substantially rectilinear relativemovement, one of said niembers having its contacts projecting therebeyond and the other member having contacts of less width yieldinglyconfined in passages therein, said passages having 7 free open ings andbeing materially larger than said projecting contacts to facilitateentry of the latter within the former and being of tapered form intransverse section to permit full insertion of said contacts only in agiven relation to said confined contacts while permitting yielding ofsaid latter contacts.

9. The combination with a plurality of members each carrying a pluralityof contacts, the contacts on one of said members having convex portionsand the contacts on the other of said members being relatively wider andhaving concave portions for engagement therewith, an insulatingmemberhaving substantially V-shaped passages extending therethrough, thecontacts on said first mentioned member being located adjacent thepoints of convergence'of the walls latter mentioned insulating member bysaid inserts respectively, ezuh oi said conductive members having aportion Formed to provide a Contact and another portion "formed toprovide a lug, means cooperating with said lugs For releasably securingsaid insulating' members together, and terminal screws carried by saidinserts.

In witnessrrhereof, I have hereunto subscribed. my name.

GEORGE J. MEUER.

